Anything in the world consists of small things, and portable audio is no exception. Sometimes some small details can change the impression of a decent model with a quality sound and doom it to obscurity. It is about such an undeservedly overlooked product and will be discussed today.
Accutone is not new to the personal audio market, there are several interesting models in their portfolio, and the design shows that the company was working above the ruler, and not simply branded the OEM product of the nearest factory (or at least chose a unique OEM model ). For the flagship model Gemini HD found a good radiator with beryllium membrane spraying. It is now such a surprise, and a few years ago it was a novelty. Thought about interesting packaging, stylish presentation, put out a good price, . What does the buyer get for this money?
Specifications
- Case: stainless steel
- Emitters: 8 mm dynamic, with a beryllium sprayed diaphragm
- Frequency range: 20 Hz to 22 kHz
- Sensitivity: 103 dB
- Impedance: 20Ω
- Weight: 15g
- Cable: 1.3 m, with iPhone-compatible headset
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS
Packing and delivery kit
The first impression produced by Gemini HD is incredibly positive. The outer box of transparent plastic hides inside a very stylish box-box, covered with white leatherette, in such usually sell watches, perfumes and other jewelry. In our case, there are stored headphones, three pairs of replaceable filters, two pairs of Comply foals and a small case from the same white leatherette for storing headphones. It's surprising the company's decision not to include conventional silicone attachments, but to find a set of suitable "silicone" in our time is not a problem.
Design and comfortable wearing
The headphones themselves are made very stylish, polished stainless steel in combination with more matte metal forms an unusual look, despite the rather standard cylindrical shape of the cases. Due to the fact that Accutone did not invent the bicycle in the design, the headphones easily sit in almost any ears, allowing both a breech landing, and a more traditional way of carrying the wire down.
This model has recently been equipped with a system of replaceable filters for sound tuning, they are traditionally made in the form of sound guides screwed into the body on the thread: a quick and simple solution.
After selection of attachments, headphones can be worn without problems for a long period of time, despite the noticeable weight (metal in the body makes itself felt), there is no discomfort. Sound insulation is slightly better than the average for the form factor.
Wire, perhaps, is the weakest place in the design of this model. Half the trouble that it is not replaceable, the main problem is that it is thin enough and white, which can affect its strength and marchiness. Although I did not get any damage for a year (I use headphones very carefully), the dirt still got its own, and the cable is not that white anymore. The microphone effect at the wire is weak, it hardens slightly in the frost and sometimes gets confused, but not critical. The wire has a three-button headset that works according to the iOS-compatible standard, the quality of its microphone is average, when talking it is better to bring the headset unit a little closer to the mouth.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening.
- Yulong DA9 and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS # 2 and iBasso DX200 and others as portable players
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 72 hours.
Initially, the developers of this model adopted a good idea of replacement filters, putting in the set 3 pairs of sound guides, traditionally declared as "bassy", "neutral" and "high". The actual listening quickly shows that they should have been called "atomic bass", "just a lot of bass" and "LF is slightly more than average", since with any option the headphones retain their accent on the bass, however, it's up to them. I, of course, chose the most "light" version, which, however, can be called light with difficulty, but should there be in the world headphones for fans of dark filing?
Low frequencies are emphasized, the bass is very elastic and massive, it is not the fastest, but thanks to the good dynamics it does not fall into the booming mush, traditional for "basshead models". Gemini HD still generally cope with the task to keep the LF in its place and ensure the normal transmission of textures. Of course, on bass-saturated tracks, LF will press on the rest of the band, but it's inevitable just in favor of physics, and in general - many such a feed is dearly loved.
The midrange range is the "pearl" of the given model, "middle" in them is fed slightly smoothened, but it sounds very "effective". In the sounding of instruments and vocals, there is some accentuation of emotions and micronuans, perceived by hearing as "scale". I understand that such a description is very abstract, but what to do, attempts to describe subjective, poorly formalized phenomena are doomed to be so. Drawing parallels with other headphones, it can be noted that this model has little in common with the Campfire Audio Vega and Periodic Audio Titan. The imaginary scene is approximately average in width and slightly less than average in depth, which is typical for headphones with darkened feeding.
The RFs are not bad at the resolution, but their attacks are intentionally smoothed, in order to fit into the overall "comfortable" sound of the model. Therefore, against the background of accented low frequencies, they sound reserved for second place and sometimes they are lost. However, for HF fobs this is more of a good news.
Comparisons this time I will not do, since the headphones have their own, special sound and almost any attempts to compare them with something will take place under the motto "completely different".
Compatibility
Naturally, this model works well with most simple sources such as smartphones and tablets. They do not need some fancy player, which makes them a good choice for non-audiophiles who do not want to spend money on the source.
Stylistically, Gemini HD gravitates either to music with an emphasis on bass (electronics, pop), or to mid-oriented styles without strong bass protrusion: jazz, vocal music, instrumental works. To the quality of recording, the model is fairly tolerant, somewhere 5 points on a 10-point scale.
Traditionally, several tracks for example
Nino Katamadze & Insight - Autumn . It's the same midrange-oriented music that I wrote about above. With Gemini HD you will get a spectacular vocal and live gear of instruments, while LF will not interfere with enjoying the track.
The Ondekoza - Odaiko . Since the bass is one of the main dominants in the sound of this model, it is necessary to give it a full disclosure, and what can be better for this than the recording of Japanese drums and flute? Powerful strokes, a penetrating introduction - all this simply immerses in the atmosphere of the melody.
Oscar Peterson - Night Train . The case when there is not even much point in writing about the track. The virtuoso recording of a jazz piano with accompanying instruments is what is necessary for the heroes of today's review.
conclusions
An unusual model, undeservedly circumvented by attention. Of course, they are not universal, but connoisseurs of such a feed are clearly available, and they will find in Gemini HD an interesting embodiment of "bass" headphones made without strong distortions.
The article is based on materials .
Comments
Post a Comment